Protecting Long Island's Environment
Long Island's environment is one of our greatest assets—but it's also one of our greatest responsibilities. Everything we love about living here depends on protecting our natural resources. Clean air and clean water are essential to our health and quality of life. Our beautiful beaches and bays support local businesses and tourism. Our amazing parks allow people of all ages and backgrounds to enjoy green open spaces. Most importantly, every family on Long Island depends on the same sole-source aquifer for clean drinking water. Once it's contaminated, there is nowhere else to turn. Protecting our environment isn't just about conservation. It's about protecting public health, lowering costs for families, creating healthier communities, and preserving Long Island for the next generation.
VIDEO HIGHLIGHT
Another Superstorm Sandy?
Andrew Garbarino has Failed Us
Clean Water Is Personal to Me
Long Island families face some of the highest breast cancer rates in the country, and while no single cause explains that reality, we know exposure to toxic chemicals and contaminated groundwater is a serious public health concern that demands action. When chemical companies contaminate our drinking water, they shouldn't be allowed to leave taxpayers holding the bill. Companies that pollute our air and water should pay to clean up the damage they cause. That's the principle I've fought for throughout my career and it's the principle I'll bring to Congress.
My Record on the Enviornment
Protecting Long Island's environment isn't a campaign promise for me—it's been my life's work. As Suffolk County Executive, I established the Drinking Water Protection Program to preserve land over Long Island's aquifer recharge zones, preventing development that could threaten our drinking water supply for generations to come.
As Chairman of the Suffolk County Water Authority, I helped lead one of the nation's largest public water systems, delivering safe drinking water to more than 1.2 million Suffolk County residents. I helped lead landmark litigation against the manufacturers of PFAS "forever chemicals," securing approximately $170 million to help remove these dangerous contaminants from our drinking water instead of taxpayers shouldering the cost.
I also helped secure tens of millions of dollars in state funding for water treatment infrastructure and to connect families with contaminated private wells to safe public water. During the COVID pandemic, we delayed water rate increases because families were already facing enough financial hardship.
Earlier in my career, as a member of the New York State Assembly, I authored New York's landmark Bottle Bill, dramatically increasing recycling and reducing litter across our state. I also chaired the Assembly Subcommittee on Long Island Marine Resources, helping protect our coastal environment and fisheries and I also co-sponsored a law to close polluting landfills.
Protecting Long Island's Future
Long Island is on the frontline of global warming and we need to carefully balance environmental protection and economic growth. I'll fight for federal investments that help restore the Great South Bay, strengthen coastal resilience, reduce flooding, modernize drinking water infrastructure, and protect our communities from stronger storms and rising seas. I'll also continue opposing projects that threaten our sole-source aquifer or place unacceptable burdens on Long Island's environment. Development should strengthen our communities—not put our drinking water or quality of life at risk.
The Policies I'll Fight For
Make polluters—not taxpayers—pay to clean up contamination.
Protect Long Island's sole-source aquifer and strengthen federal drinking water standards.
Continue removing PFAS and other emerging contaminants from our water supply.
Protect clean air by reducing harmful pollution, strengthening clean air standards, and holding major polluters accountable.
Invest in modern water infrastructure and wastewater treatment.
Restore the Great South Bay and protect our beaches, wetlands, and coastal ecosystems.
Preserve open space and environmentally sensitive lands.
Strengthen climate resilience to reduce flooding, protect homes, and lower long-term costs.
Support responsible recycling, waste reduction, and a cleaner Long Island economy.
And What I'll Fight Against
I oppose rolling back environmental protections that keep our air and water safe.
I oppose forcing Long Island taxpayers to pay for pollution caused by large chemical companies.
I oppose weakening the Environmental Protection Agency's ability to regulate greenhouse gases and protect public health.
And I oppose development that threatens our sole-source aquifer or sacrifices Long Island's environment for short-term profits.
The Contrast: Garbarino's Trashing our Environment
Andrew Garbarino has supported budgets that reduce funding for environmental protection while accepting campaign contributions from major corporate interests like Dow Chemical, even as Long Island communities continue to face the costs of contaminated groundwater, coastal flooding, and aging environmental infrastructure. Like Lee Zeldin, our former Congressman and now EPA Administrator who's destroying the EPA, Garbarino knows how sensitive the South Shore is to climate change. But his votes that benefit his corporate donors instead of his supposed home are leaving the Long Island out to dry.
I've spent my career protecting Long Island's water, preserving open space, restoring our environment, and holding polluters accountable. In Congress, I'll continue that fight—because protecting Long Island's environment means protecting our families, our economy, and the place we call home.